Three Rifles mourns loss of another UK soldier in Afghanistan
Soldier from Three Rifles killed during firefight in Helmand province, Afghanistan, next of kin informed
Sunday, 07, Mar 2010 07:17
By Matthew Champion
A soldier from Three Rifles has been killed during a firefight in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, the third soldier to die from the regiment since Friday.
The Ministry of Defence said the unnamed soldier, whose next of kin have been informed, died as a result of wounds from small arms fire on Sunday morning.
Lieutenant Colonel David Wakfield, spokesman for Taskforce Helmand, said: "It is with deep sadness I have to tell you that a British soldier was killed this morning in a firefight with insurgents at patrol base Bariolai to the north of Sangin district centre.
"The soldier died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained during an insurgent attack on the patrol base involving small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
"He gave his life fighting to protect his friends and to bring security to the people of Sangin; we will remember him."
The soldier's death takes the UK death-toll to 271 since operations in Afghanistan began. On Sunday the MoD named the Three Rifles soldier who died on Friday as Rifleman Jonathon Allott. An as-yet unnamed comrade of theirs died on Saturday.